US to return occupied land to Japan, report says

Washington and Tokyo have made an agreement that calls for the US military to return occupied land to Japan, a report says.
The Tokyo-based agency Kyodo News said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US Ambassador to Tokyo John Roos were expected to sign off the deal on Friday.
The agreement will eventually see land occupied by five US military facilities, and other areas on the main island of Okinawa handed over to Japanese control.
The agreement will also see the relocation of the controversial US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded residential area to occur in 2022 or later. No details have been given on the timing and location of the military base transfers.
Local residents have criticized US military presence on the Japanese islands, arguing that Tokyo is overburdened with the approximately 47,000 US service personnel.
However, Japan argues that US military presence in the area must be maintained in order to retain security amid growing pressure from China and North Korea.
GMA/HSN